Iran: conservative Ali Bagheri, new head of nuclear negotiators

Ali Bagheri has been appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and should in principle be responsible for leading discussions with the major powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. REUTERS / Denis Sinyakov

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Tehran replaced Abbas Aragchi, deputy foreign minister and as such chief nuclear negotiator, with Ali Bagheri, a conservative.

This should complicate discussions with the major powers to resuscitate the 2015 nuclear deal.

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With our correspondent in Tehran

,

Siavosh Ghazi

Ali Bagheri has been appointed deputy foreign minister and should, in principle, be responsible for leading talks with the major powers to revive

the 2015 nuclear deal

.

The 54-year-old was part of the nuclear negotiating team between 2007 and 2013 under the chairmanship of the ultra-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

He has never hidden his disagreement with the 2015 nuclear deal by accusing the government of President Hassan Rouhani of having made too many concessions to the United States and Western countries.

An appointment that should complicate negotiations

Ali Bagheri's appointment to this key post comes as the United States and European countries urge Iran to return to the negotiating table in Vienna.

But Tehran, which feels in a position of strength, is dragging its feet.

Iran demands the end of US sanctions imposed since 2018 and then limit its nuclear program.

The arrival of Ali Bagheri is expected to complicate these negotiations as Western countries increasingly worry about Iran's progress on its nuclear program.

Which would bring him closer to the atomic weapon.

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